Outdoor Classrooms
While most nursery settings keep children in one room, at Hodder House this isn’t the case. Our Pre-Prep is set in glorious woodland and is equipped with exceptional facilities, our unique campus allows for everyday learning to be taken outside of the classroom to make the most of the woodland setting. Here, children are allowed to develop a wide range of skills including confidence, independence, social and risk taking skills with a hands-on approach.
At St Mary's Hall Pre-Prep, we have two main outdoor learning areas which provide an engaging and motivational place for little minds to learn, helping children reconnect with nature and realise their potential. As well as these two main areas, we utilise the whole Stonyhurst campus, including: the Jesuit Gardens, the Ponds and the many fields surrounding our wonderful learning space. We understand that creating the perfect educational surrounding is important for development and stimulation at such a young age.
This wonderful location, coupled with inspirational teaching and a child-centred approach, creates the ideal environment for young children to flourish.
The children are often found building dens, creating paint using natural materials or even toasting marshmallows on an open fire to name but a few activities! New experiences present opportunities.
Ros Wroblewski, Assistant Head (Primary Phase) of St Mary’s Hall
Mission Garden
The Mission Garden is used by St Mary’s Hall pupils for outdoor lessons and Gardening Club and was built entirely by the pupils under the supervision of the teachers. It provides children with the opportunity to get their hands dirty and learn how to grow organic fruit and vegetables whilst caring for the environment. Within the woodland area features a wildlife pond, pollinator friendly planting and a fire pit, where the children cook home-grown produce; we are proud to encourage our young people to reduce, reuse and recycle and to think about how they can truly make a difference. Food grown in the Mission Garden is donated to local food banks to support our local community.
Woodland Classroom
Situated next to Brothers' Walk, the Woodland Classroom allows pupils to get involved in outdoor activities such as collecting leaves to bring inside to use within their arts and crafts activities, looking for squirrels and birds, creating ephemeral art and building fairy houses.
Take the next step
- Why do we learn outdoors?
- Are there any health benefits to outdoor learning?
- Which skills are learnt through outdoor learning?
- Is outdoor learning part of the curriculum?